Football practice device



Aug. 3, 1937. B. KLUM 2,088,861

FOOTBALL PRACTICE DEVICE Filed April 8, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 3,1937, B. KLUM 2,088,861

FOOTBALL PRACTICE DEVICE Filed April 8, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Blainelllum Patented Aug. 3, 1937 f o' virso STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,088,861FOOTBALL PRACTICE DEVICE Blaine Klum, Oakland, Calif. Application April8, 1936, Serial No. 73,355

Claims.

. .lVly invention relates to football practice deprovision of, a deviceof this character which Willto a large extent simulate the action of aplayer and which will require good form on the part of thepracticingplayer to be efiectively charged, blocked or tackled.-

vA further object of this invention is to provide a device of theabove-mentioned character the speed of action and mobility of which issubstantially as great as that of a live and trained player, whereby itwill elude a charger, blockeror ,tackler who does not. employ the propermethod of attack.

,Another object of this invention is to provide'a device of thischaracter which can be used to :train football players with resultscomparable to training against live opponents, withoutJthe danger ofinjuries attendant upon practice ofthat kind. a

Still another object of this invention is the ,provision of a device ofthis character which is of simple and inexpensive construction, whichis,;ruggcd,1and durable, the breakable parts of which; can be readilyreplaced, and which can be readily set up for use and taken down forstorage between periods of use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a. part of this specificationand wherein like characters of reference denote like parts throughout,Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention in its operative positionready for use,

Figure 2 is atop plan view thereof showing the range of movement of thedummy in dotted lines,

Figure 3 is an elevation of the device in use,

the frame being shown in section, I

Figure 4 is a vertical central sectional view through the dummy, partsbeing shown in elevation,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 5- 5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on a somewhat larger scale showingthe elastic bands and theirfconnections; parts being broken'away,

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 1- -'I of l igure6,.

" detail view illustrating the method the of disconnecting the innerportion of the elastic band from the dummy, and,

Figure 9 is a perspective View of the wrench used for removing andreplacing the elastic bands. L

In thedrawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral Ill designates asupporting framework which may be of any suitable construction but whichis illustrated as comprising a pair of uprights firmly embedded in theground about 10 or 12 feet apart, connected by a cross bar about 6 feetor more above the ground and a second cross bar spaced about six inchesbelow the surface of the ground.

The central portion of the top cross bar of the frame is-provided with abolt l I having a hooked lower end projecting below the cross bar, and

i a similar bolt I2 is secured to the lower embedded crossbar, directlybelow the bolt II and has a hooked portion at its upper end at about theground level. The hooked bolts II and [2 are designed to removablysecure my, improved practice dummy in a vertical position in the frame.

.The dummy is of generally cylindrical shape and is preferably aboutfour feet in length although it may obviously have a somewhat differentshape and size. The body of the dummy is formed in three sections ofsubstantially equal length and comprises an outer casing l3 of somesuitable flexible material such as canvas or the like. The threesections of the casing l3 are connected by suitable accordion-likepleats M which may be formed by inturned flaps secured togetherat apoint substantially closer to the axis of the dummy than the outer wallof the casing, as seen in Figure 4. The flaps may be secured together bystitches, staples or other suitable means. The ends of the casing l3 areclosed by disks l5 of leather or other suitable material which may beremovably secured to the casing by laces 16 or by other means. Theleather disks l5 areprovided. with central openings which receive upperand lower hub members H and the disks are rigidly secured to the hubmembers, which may beof some rigid material such as metal, aluminum orother light metal being preferred. The hub members are provided withcentral longitudinal bores relieved at their inner portions to receive aflexible tube l8 connecting the hubs l1, and extending longitudinally ofthe casing l3 and concentric with the axis thereof. The tube may be ofany suitable construction and material, such as, for example, a sectionof fire hose, and is firmly secured to the hubs.

t threaded bolt stub 3| The tube I8 is surrounded and closely engagedmetal band 22 surrounding thetube and a trans-i verse bolt 23 extendingthrough the band, tube and block. The block 2| may be of wood and may 1have a metal internally screw threaded sleeve 24 extendinglongitudinally therethrough; 'If desired the block 2| may be entirely ofmetal witha screwthreaded bore therein.

The dummy is adapted to be suspended between the hook bolts II and I2,and in order to obtain,

the desired elasticity, I prefer to use elastic or rubber bands 25- toconnect the hooks II and 2 to the block 2|. While it is possible tousesprings for this suspension, rubber or elastic is greatly preferredbecause of the smoother action andgreater stretching properties. Thebands are of substantial thickness, a diameter of 1% inches beingsatisfactory although the size may vary as desired. Each of the bands 25has its ends vulcanized to form an endless band. One end of each band isforced into a cup 26 of generally oblong cross-section and having aspool or the like 2'! removably bolted therein to pass through the bandopening, as seen in Figures 4 and 6. Eyelets 28 are integrally formed onthe cup 26 toremovably engage the hooks II and I2.

The inner end of each band is similarly arranged in a cup 29 also ofgenerally oblong shape with 'a removable spool 30 to retain the band inthe cup; The vulcanized portion of the bands are arranged Within thecups 26 or 29 to prevent breakage thereof, as indicated in Figures 6, 7and r 8, andthebands are fitted snugly within the cups 26 and 29asindicated in Figures 5, 6 and 7. Each ofthe cups 29 is provided with aprojecting screw adapted to be received within the sleeve 24- of block2|. 'In order to secure the bolts to the block 2| and remove themtherefrom, I make use of a Wrench of the form shown in Figures 8 and 9,comprising an elongated handle 32 havingarcuate converging Wings 33arranged at one end thereof to form a wedge-like end member which can beinserted in the cups 29 between the two lengths of the band as seen inFigure-8, and rotated to rotate the cups. As the bands are-fittedtightly in the cups, the wrench will readily turn the cups and bolts 3|.

Inpractice, the eyelets 28 of cups 26 are passed over hooks l and 2 andthe dummy is suspended in a vertical position at the center of frame 10.The dummy may be about four feet in length to correspond with the bodyof a player from shoulder to knees and is preferably arranged with itslower'end spaced about a foot or afoot and a half above the ground levelas shown in Figure 1.

,The doubled lengths of'elastic 25 extend from the hooks H and I2 to thecenter of the dummy through tube I8, and consequently are long and havean extremely large capacity for stretching.

The dummy is flexible due to its construction and to the provision ofthe pleated portions l4 and may be bent much in the same manner as aplayer will bend when blocked or tackled. The

tube l8 will bend with the dummy but will not collapse, due to theaction of coil spring I9.

754 whencharged, blocked or tackled by a player the dummy will move awayfrom the player and will readily elude him unless he makes a perfectblock or tackle. Due to the length and elasticity of bands 25, the dummyis capable of moving through a radius of about four feet in anydirection, as indicated in Figure 2, and in this respect resembles anactual player and his normal range of movement. Due to the rapid andsmooth action of the dummy, it will elude a player unless the playerstechnique is good, and will consequently train a player in the propermethod of play, as faulty blocking or tackling will not be successful.

In Figure 3 the dummy is shown in use, illustrating its range ofmovement and the flexibility ranged on'or near the periphery of thedummy to injure a player.

Due to the fast action and mobility of the dummy, which duplicates theactions of a well trained opponent, goodform on the part of the playeris required. All of the refinements of technique necessary in'making agood block or a sustained charge rnust be used on my invention, which istherefore self-instructing. In tackling, the dummy must be hit squarelyand grasped firmly to beheld. The important features of constructionresulting in the necessary mobility and rapidity of action are believedto bathe effective length and elasticity of the bands 2513.116. theflexibility of the dummy. By reference to Figure 3 it will be seen thatthe dummy tends to bend at its center after the fashion of a liveopponent rather than bending, swinging or pivoting from top or bottom asis the casewith practice dummies of the prior art.

-The.dummy can be taken down for'storage by merely unhooking the eyelets28' from hooks and .|2, and the bands can be readily replaced byuse-:of-the'wrench 32. To remove the bands from cups 29' and 26. it isonly necessary to remove the spool retaining bolts, best illustrated inFigure 7. The onlyparts of the device subject to breakage from wear arethe bands 25 which can be replaced at a nominal cost.

Thecoil spring l9 may be made from. circular stock, as shown in thedrawings, or it may be flat to more closely engage the flexible tube l8.In practice it is desirable to wrap the coil spring with suitable tapeto, prevent working of the fill- I ing material under-the spring coils.For co-nvenience of illustration the tape is not shown on the drawings,so that the construction of the spring and-tube will not be obscured.

It ispreferredto use the folded elastic band illustrated, but a singleband of greater thickness may obviously beemployed.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in connectionwith its application to football, it may obviously be used in any othercapacity for which its construction and characteristics adapt it.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment ofmyinvention, itis to be understood that various changes in the size, shapeand arrangementv of parts may be resorted to without departing fromthespirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described 'my invention, what I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a flexible dummy, a flexiblenon-collapsible tube extending longitudinally of the dummy, a support,and resilient suspension means connecting the dummy and support andextending into said tube.

2. In a device of the character described, a flexible dummy, a flexiblenon-collapsible tube extending longitudinally of the dummy, a rigidmember secured in said tube between the ends thereof, a support, andresilient means connecting the support with the rigid member in thetube.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced supports, adummy, a tube extending longitudinally through the dummy, a crossmemberin said tubes, resilient suspension members connected to said spacedsupports, and means to detachably connect the resilient suspensionmembers to the cross-member in the tube.

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced supports, aflexible dummy, 2. flexible tube extending through said dummy, meanssurrounding said tube to prevent collapsing thereof while permittingbending of the tube, a crossmember in said tube, and resilientsuspension members connecting the cross-member with said spacedsupports.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced supports, aflexible dummy, a flexible tube extending through said dummy, aresilient coil spring surrounding said tube, a crossmember in the tube,and resilient suspension members connecting the cross-member with saidspaced supports.

6. In a device of the character described, a dummy, a flexible tubeextending through a portion of the length of said dummy, a coil springclosely engaging said tube toprevent collapsing thereof, a cross-memberarranged in said tube, and a resilient suspension member extending intosaid tube and secured to said cross-member.

'7. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced supports, adummy, a tube extending through said dummy, a cross-member in said tubeand spaced from the ends thereof, and a pair of endless elastic bandsconnecting the spaced supports with the tube cross-member.

8. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced supports, adummy, a tube extending through said dummy, a cross-member in said tubeand spaced from the ends thereof, an endless elastic band connected toeach support and extending into said .tube from opposite ends thereof,and means to detachably connect said bands to opposite sides of the tubecross-member.

9. In a device of the character described, a support, a dummy, a tubeextending into said dummy, an endless elastic band connected to saidsupport and extending into said tube, a terminal member detachablyconnected to the inner portion of the elastic band, and means todetachably connect said terminal member to the dummy within said tube.

10. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced supports, adummy, a tube extending through said dummy, a cross-member in said tubeand spaced from the ends thereof, a pair of endless elastic bands, apair of terminal members removably secured to each hand, one of saidterminal members of each band being connected to a respective one of thesupports, said bands extending into opposite ends of the tube, and meansto detachably connect the other of said terminal members of each band tothe tube crossmember. 7

11. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced supports, adummy, a tube extending through said dummy, a cross-member in said tubeand spaced from the ends thereof, a pair of endless elastic bands, apair of terminal members removably secured to each band, one of saidterminal members of each band being connected to a respective one of thesupports, said bands extending into opposite ends of the tube, means todetachably connect the other of said terminal members of each band tothe tube cross-member, and a coil spring closely surrounding the tube toprevent collapsing thereof.

12. In a device of the character described, a dummy comprising aflexible casing having a pleated portion on its periphery to facilitatebending of the casing, a flexible tube extending longitudinally througha portion of the length of said casing, a filling material arrangedbetween the tube and the walls of the casing, a

support, and a resilient suspension member connected to said support andextending into the tube, said suspension member being connected to thetube at a point spaced from the outer end thereof.

13. In a device of the character described, a dummy comprising aflexible casing having a pleated portion on its periphery to facilitatebending of the casing, a flexible tube extending longitudinally througha portion of the length of said casing, a filling material arrangedbetween the tube and the walls of the casing, a support, a resilientsuspension member connected to said support and extending into the tube,said suspension member being connected to the tube at a point spacedfrom the outer end thereof, and a coil spring surrounding the tube.

14. In a device of the character described, a casing having a pleatedportion on its periphery to facilitate bending thereof, a pair of hubmembers secured to the ends of the casing and having longitudinallyextending bores therein, a flexible tube connecting the hub members andregistering with the bores thereof, a cross-member secured in said tubeat a point spaced from the hub members, and resilient suspension membersconnected to opposite sides of the crossmember and extending through thetube to the exterior of the hub members.

15. In a device of the character described, a casing having a pleatedportion on its periphery to facilitate bending thereof, a pair of hubmembers secured to the ends of the casing and having longitudinallyextending bores therein, a flexible tube connecting the hub members andregistering with the bores thereof, a cross-member secured in said tubeat a point spaced from the hub members, resilient suspension membersconnected to opposite sides of the cross-member'and extending throughthe tube to the exterior of the hub members, and a coil springsurrounding the tube.

BLAINE KLUM.

